how about drinking?

Sounds like you are settling right in Karen.  Sure the wine is helping.

I need to get my hide out there cycling.  That is, after I put some stuff on my ankle to draw out the soreness.  A lot cooler today, so a good day for a ride.

No fireworks today, although somewhere in WA State a fireworks stand blew up.  Why am I not surprised this sort of thing happened.  Could believe how easy to buy yesterday.

On my way back from church, I bailed out one of the young parishioners.  A young, gay guy with a gentle soul.  Unfortunately, he made the unwise decision to be charitable to one of the homeless in the neighborhood.  Long story, but the guy had taken advantage of him, and was following him around as he thought he could get even more stuff out of him.

So I walked around with him so that the homeless guy would find someone else to work as a target.  (I am not charitable that way.)  Poor guy.  Sometimes reality intervenes, and you need to temper helping those in need.

Just need to get down to the Interurban Trail.  Then something short and fun tomorrow.  And I will be trained and ready for next weekend!!! - Claire

Stanzie - Well ya know... you won't find that guy who says, ‘oh, here let me help you" as long as you are not available. And you so deserve to have someone like that in your life! And so do your kids. They certainly are not an impediment to your having someone wonder in your life. Rather, they help you see how selfish some men are. I like the "whirling dervish" description. My mom used to call me "the little white tornado".  I have made tomato tarts with goat cheese (kind of like a quiche) and pesto or basil. I like Kathy's idea too (tomato sandwiches - LOVE those). I'm jealous - no tomatoes yet here.

Chrissy and Kathy - fireworks already! They've been going off at the park down the street for the past couple of nights. Thankfully our current pets are not bothered by them. Our fireworks aren't as sexy as Kathy's though.  

Claire - yummy tomato pie recipe ... that is exactly what I had in mind. So glad you got your groove back.

Junie - my DH would positively die! Actually, we went to look at hot tubs once and he made me get into one (no water of course) to see how roomy it was. We were just sitting there are looked at each other and we both started laughing. I got out quickly.

Yikes Lori! I've had some pretty funny falls myself... once I was all dressed up in a suit heading for a sales presentation and my heel stuck in a gap in the sidewalk and I fell face first right in the middle of a plaza. My shoe stayed upright in the gap. Fortunately I did not damage my PC or get a run in my hose. Sometimes I just fall for no apparent reason and I have to pretend I stepped on something...

Kathy - thanks for getting Pants to add the peach schnapps... isn't there a name for that? It's kind of like a bellini.

Karen - The 15 minute walk to catch the bus should help with the 10#... I decided that gaining weight was a sign of something wrong with my eating habits so I took a serious look at what I was doing. Turns out I was consuming a lot of calories (and fat and carbs) casually at coffee shops. So... I started making my own yogurt and starting the day with that and some fruit and a handful of granola and taking some fruit and nuts with me for a snack. The other thing I didn't realize I was doing was eating too much dessert. My DH is thin and very active. He likes to order dessert when we go out, keeps premium ice cream in the fridge, and insists that eat half his plate-size cookie when we go out for coffee. He can do that but I can't. I find that I am perfectly happy with a small square of really great chocolate instead of baked goodies. The yogurt and fruit really is more satisfying than a coffee shop muffin and keeps me satisfied longer so I don't crave sweets. I lost 12# by finding 2 bad habits and finding options that are healthier and more satisfying. I also seem to eat healthier at home and when I have a nice glass of wine.

Has everyone seen Midnight in Paris? I think we are going tonight...

Oh Dorothy.  I sure did not miss the end of Aunt Flo, and was very miserable towards the end.  No wonder you were struggling with month end.

I did the ride I had planned and feel amazing.  Just wonderful to have the exercise, the air, the sun, and to accomplish the task.  Plus, know I will be just fine for next weekend.   Only six days away.  Ankle is relatively fine too.

Dorothy....have steak and wine tonight.  Plus rhubarb for dessert.  Let me know if that one works.

One major benefit of being past Aunt Flo, is that I can wear things like yellow jeans and not worry.  And since I cycle, I have the legs to wear them.  How great is that???? - Claire

Aaarrrggghhh, lost anudda post! That is so frustrating!!! So will say hiya Goylies...and I will hafta redo my post, arrggghhh!! Oh well, getting ready for da 4th and will at least pop in to say Happy Happy Hour and I'm almost ready for the big PAR-TAY tomorrow. Love and hugs, ~Beans

OMGawd....so much to say!!!!   Stanzie--this SO guy of yours sounds like he's burned his last bridge with you--keep him on the other side of the river.....regardless of his "credentials" he sounds like a very insecure, immature person--to make such snide remarks constantly about people less fortunate....AND, to continually belittle you in the things he says to you......he's bad  news.......Huggsss to you--you don't need the additional stress he generates!  A$$hole, BE GONE!!!

Lori--I really am sorry that I first laughed when I read your "falling" story....(I have a few my own dang self......)  BUT, I can't believe that you don't remember the rock, or the sand, or an unmarked curb, or the person who bumped you and made you lose your balance, or anything that distracted you.............and caused you to trip.....semi j/k........really hope you don't let DH know you're blaming your new shoes--he may not be so generous in the future!

Dear DorK--so sorry to hear that the Aunt Flo bitch has paid a visit!  My Aunt Flo took a permanent hike after my 2nd chemo (I helped her pack her bags....).   But, her sister, Polly Polyp paid me a surprise visit after my 3rd year of Tamox--GYN thought it was Tamox build-up but turned out to be 3 uterine polyps, one of which he was pretty sure had been growing long before my bc.  D&C scrape and no problems since--Flo and Polly--be gone!!!

I've been sitting out on the deck with binocs, watching fireworks way off in the distance.   Quite pleasant out after a whopping 105 degrees today!  A few little storms passing thru have cooled things down....for a little while, the lightning was better than the fireworks!  Nothing severe in the works and tomorrow will be hotter yet and hummmmmidddd.

See y'all tomorrow!

Do you all really know how totally amazing you are? You know what a fantasitc thing this website is. To be brought togethe under such hidevious and horrid reasons and to find such love, warmth, friendship and thank goodness tons of laughter! I can still get tickled thinking about Gail and her doggies antibotic - I think it was the whole tail thing and having to confess to the vet - one of my favorite stories. But anyway, we are all so different but love each and everyone and all the grand difference in personalities!

OK, so onward but that is my very heartfelt thank you for listening and actually reading my SO rant. I'm really trying hard to break away - not one of my non-virtual friends or family like him so I do know it isn't right but at the same time it is hard too.

Enough of all that. Claire you would be horrified by my menus. Now I know you eat some truely fabulous foods but I know you also are good about moderation and exercise. So stop reading....

OK, so I have made some grandly fatning dishes but even my DD who won't eat meat thought it was good. It is certainly not for those watching cholesterol but chicken cooked in bacon grease and sherry with mushroom, onion, garlic, bacon and cheese! Yikes - all over angel hair pasta with a sauce... then a caesar salad - was going to do a spinach salad with the crab dish I made but thought as I thought the caesar would be too heavy now i'm thinking whoops maybe the other way around but haven't bought spinach yet. Oh well, will try not to eat much of it - then made these flourless chocolate brownies topped with fudge and a raspberry cream, and a choc. mint ice cream pie. We will do the tart and tomatoe sandwitches.... Oh heavens we will have to do some exercise.. Oh I made the guest house pretty cute with some roses, and choc. almonds by the bed, and scones and cherry turnovers with fresh fruit for breakfast and OJ and coffee and set up the screen porch so she can relax early in the am. She gets up really early like 6:00 - after yesterday and today and getting up early to clean upstairs - I think she can enjoy the morning and I'll see her late morning. 

Oh Junie - that is the most grand story! I'll bet that saleman tells everyone he knows and even new customers. LOL!! What a lucky guy your hubby is to have such a fun and entertainly wife! Too cute. But the big question since you haven't found the perfect mattress??? will he now still go shoping with you?

Lori, so sorry about the fall - Thank goodness you didn't get hurt - well other than your pride. I'm sure you were quite graceful going down though.At Church walking down the aisle I find I tend to sort of fall toward the right and today fell into one of the tenors. Whoops. I finally found out why though - I just thought it was a MS thing but come to find out my right leg is shorter than my left! Wow, took me 50 years to find that out? Talk about unobservant! Now I had the well remembered fall at high school graduation - 2000 in a cathedral and I fell down 6 stairs, supposedly yelled my show went that way and was helped up by 4 male teachers. Unfortunanly I have the pictures to prove it. 

Karen - All I can say is Wow, you are so brave and so ... gosh what is the right word. Ummm. I don't know but you sound happy figuring everything out. I think it will be interesting once you get a routine and more settled how differnt your posts will become. Your night with everyone speaking Hebrew reminds me of when in college I went for Christmas with my roomate who lived in Venezuela. Now her parents were Irish and Scottish so at their house it was fine - all English. However for two days we spent with her friends and then went to a Wedding and everyone was maddly speaking Spanish and I was totally in the dark - even thought I took both Spanish and French the only language that came to me was the French. Anyway, she was feeling bad about me being left out so we went to a drive in movie with her friends and family and as they got the movies from the States it would be in English. Whew - so relieved and looking forward. So we get there and the movie starts! Nope we saw Dr. Zivago in SPANISH! Ack - long movie....

Oh and Lorie - who ever mentioned not blaming the shoes too much as he might not buy you such fun cute ones - good point!!! 

Chrissy! so when do you start your travels? I don't know having to buy new clothes on the trip might not be the worst problem.....

I heard some fireworks tonight but nothing too loud. the dought is so bad it does make me nervous about neighbors shooting them off. No aren't supposed to but they still do. One neightbor one door away has this huge bon fire in the back yard, no pit or anything - scares the life out of me everytime they light the thing. 

Well, I guess it is the 4th now!!! How is it always soooo late? Happy Happy 4th of JULY!!! Everyone and thank you all for being so wonderful!!! 

have enjoyed a lovely weekend on the lake at my DH's brother's summer home in south dakota. lots of good food, wine, and time on the boat. was so worried my wig would blow off. wore a straw hat with attached scarf the first day, then just wore wig and had my hand ever so casually against the side of my head. luckily it stayed put and the temps not too hot. watched the lake fireworks tonight. good show. going home tomorrow. hopefully SIL remembers to let the dog out!

This is the last time I have to do this, this is the last time I have to do this.....I must keep repeating this to myself. Good Morning ladies well the first two days atter this last chemo were pretty darn good then wammo sat starting crashing and just kept going. This is my first time out of bed in 36hrs other than to pee of course lol. I had a fever about 99.6 for all that time, my skin hurt, body aches and the weirdest thing happened.The heels of my feet started to hurt sat night and sunday when I woke up they were all black and blue! Any of you laides who did chemo did this ever happen to you?

Anyhow just wanted to pop in and say hi it will be another couch day for me. Happy July 4th girls

Hugs

.....this is the last time I have to do this.....this is the last time I have to do this.....this is

Awe Kymn   ((((((((hugs))))))).  Yes this is the last time you have to do this.  You have climbed the mountain and conquered it...........it's an easy slide from here back to level ground.

Love n hugs.  Chrissy

Karen - Your 4 acres in Ohio was prolly nicer than all my 40 acres. Ours is in a canyon so is mostly steep and unusable, but it has some beautiful spots on it and it is so peaceful and serene. Usually the summer weather is glorious, it's been a bit cool and rainy this year but starting to get real nice. We have a jogging trail we do almost every day, even when we are there in the winter. In the winter we call it Hoth, like in Star Wars Empire Strikes Back on that frozen planet. I have been there when it got to minus 30 deg F and we thought we were in good shape because Montana had temps of minus 50! I don't go out when it gets below about minus 10 as it hurts my sinuses. We used to have a treadmill and I would use that inside on really cold days. So glad you got to Israel safely and it's so cool that you are posting about it while you are there. I got a giggle out of your writing about whether or not to schlep a book with you. I told my DH I was going to pack light for this trip, then we just laughed at all the stuff I schlepped anyway!

Claire - I definitely lean toward the red wines over whites, but on a hot day I like a nice cold chardonnay and hadn't thought of white zin for a long time, but that sounds kinda good too. Glad your ankle is doing better and you had a good ride, sounds like you have some long ones coming up. Take care and have fun! Will you be decorating your bicycle for the 4th?

Goldie - I just love reading about your solar set up.

We ended up bringing electricity in because our next door neighbor had already brought it all the way up the road, so it was not too expensive to do. Your post office and shopping distances are so much like mine. When we go to town we get the 4 runner completely full of stuff that will last for several months. Your place sounds even more secluded than ours and I agree it's not for everyone. I get a lot of enjoyment from it but also like my beach place for the convenience of having a store right there. My DH has become more and more reclusive over the years to where I think he is now a hermit. I can't hardly ever get him off that mountain! We have electric heat with propane back up and wood back up. We have a huge wood stove and my DH has cut up all this wood. I helped a little. Great pic of being on an air plane...reminds me why I don't fly any more. Sorry bout yer fall, but sounds like you are okay, that's good.

Wahine - We have been doing so much work, we are almost ready to list the 20 acres for sale, but will have to wait until after my family visits and I go back to the mountains. I will be at the coast for about a week. BTW - you had mentioned a while back that you have a Hawaiian recipe for something like pulled pork, if it's not too much trouble I would love to get that from you. I just love your avatar, that is such an adorable picture of you as a child, not surprised your aunt won a photo contest for that! Sure hope you're having a great time and thanks for the fun 4^th pics, I really enjoyed them!! Wishing you much luck and easy $$.

AStorm - I have tried to get a thank you post about three times now! Going back a few pages, I just love the passed out kitty pics you posted!! So so so cute and I love the little spots on the belly. And the kitties with the chardonnay - I did dwink a lotta wine with them but my post about it went poof! Gosh I noticed the local animal shelter is having a blow out sale on cats, I guess you can take one home for $25. I almost stopped, but still feel that we are not in a good place to have a fur baby. With everything for sale who knows where we will be. Love the corgi pic too, they are so cute just waiting for a treat! All the air line talk reminds me of why I stopped flying...I just hate getting stuck next to annoying people, your story of the mom and the kid and the Cosmopolitan is so funny, glad you got the kid to get a seat! So glad your DD1 sounds like she is doing so well.

Stanzie - I was sorry to read about your friend's daughter, it does sound like they've had a rough time. Glad is was not cancer, but pre-cancer is also a worry, sure hope she does okay. Glad you like my new avatar, I think it's funny! I'm sorry your SO is giving you problems, that is so difficult. I think Junie's advice is great. Sending you hugs...

Husker - I'm glad to hear your 2^nd opinion went well even though it's a longer drive. Hope your new doc is good...(tee hee)...I also had to make a few changes...

My drives for treatment have been very long - for chemo I was driving 8 hours each way or sometimes 3 when we would stay at our beach cabin. Then for radiation it was 30 min each way. I would have done the 90 min though to have a doctor I really liked. I had thought of renting a temporary place in Seattle and just doing it all there, but turns out I had a great doctor just 30 min from my beach pad. I was sorry to read you have been weepy, but totally understand. You have been through so much. I will not say I'm past this, but I will share that I was having so much crying, every little thing would send me into tears. I am really starting to feel on more solid ground lately and not crying so much. I think it's good to let the tears out when they come as I believe they are part of the healing process for some of us. What we have been through is huge and processing it all takes a while. Rads was far easier for me than chemo and even though it was every day it went by so fast. I had 33 with 5 of those being boosts.

DorK - So do you have your surgery scheduled yet? We need to get that bus stocked up so we can all be with you when you go in...I am sure hoping it goes smoothly for ya! Another leg of the long ride home, I will be so glad when you get this part to the finish line. If you start of hot dog cart I would like to go into biz with you! That sounds fun, I'll find you a cart! (PS sorry about that Flo bitch...yuck!) You take care and don't work too hard...can we also serve booze with our hot dogs?

NM - I love your definition of family, "people in your life who are important to you." I feel so lucky to have this HTL family where I feel understood. 

I recently spoke with a business acquaintance who was asking where I'd been the past year and I told her about my stupid cancer and all...she's a nice person, but I was sorry I told her because she just started telling me how I should eat healthy and she also acted all spooked and started telling me frantically about all the healthy things she is doing to prevent getting cancer. I really hate when people tell me what I should eat. Fooooo Huck that! I am so glad to hear your job is going well and you are feeling good about the care you are giving. That just sounds great! Funny how we don't quite bounce back as easily as when we were younger.

Cool that you will be going to Vegas, I love going there, it is so fun! Glad you are rolling in dough now! Love the Crooked Golf Cart DOTD, that was delish! And the 19^th Hole was so funny! And I'm just jumping for joy at the END OF CHEMO celebration! Hope you have a wonderful holiday off work at your Mom's with Sadie and hope Sadie is feeling better!

Kymn - I am so happy for you that you had your last chemo! You will just feel better and better from here out!

Junie - We had a great Spring Air king size bed that we sold with one of our homes and we regret. If you find a good kind I would sure like to know as we will prolly need to replace ours soon.

Lilyn - Happy Canada Day to you and thanks for the Happy 4^th wishes to us American chics. I have never heard of Pimms...sounds delishious. I am enjoying wine...I guess I just don't know how much time I've got and I'd rather enjoy my wine than not and I don't worry about it. If I worried I don't think I would enjoy it as much. That is a dilemma and I agree moderation is good. I am following my MO's advice on wine.

Chrissy - This is certainly a bizzy bar! I was happy to see you pop in and yes, normally I do write into word first. Last night I didn't, it was a mistake. So glad you are back, I've been out too and it's hard to catch up on all the goings on. Love all your fireworks pics!

I made my way over to my beach pad yesterday. I just can't believe it's the fourth of July. Last year this time I was also here at the coast. I was by myself and was waiting for my sister to arrive. I started chemo on July 6^th. I'm so glad that's over. Foooo Huck! Cancer picked the wrong rat bastard chic to mess with here! I won this round!!!! But not without a lot of love and support from my breast friends...again I am so deeply grateful to all of you for helping me get to a better place. That was really an effed up year, beyond belief.

So again I'm waiting for a different sister to arrive, a year later and I feel good. This is me when I was a young bean...

I'm going to make AStorm's oatmeal and not sure who suggested it, but def will do the Strawberry soup and I love Claire's Tomato Pie, that is a must. The fam that is arriving enjoy good meals and I love to cook...also saw a great receipe that Stanzie made, will have to think if I could do that, sounds so yummy! So now I gotta go clean and get some shopping done. I think I will make my paprika chicken shish kebobs tonight. Oh boy. Hope you all have a wonderful holiday!!! ~ Love and hugs, ~Beans

LOL Kathy... I guess I unfriended her too cuz she stopped showing up the minute I dropped my first dose of tamoxifun. Have to admit I never really had many problems and didn't really have peri-menopause symptoms... just a little warmer than I used to be.

Junie - I don't want to meet your friend Polly she sounds like a bitch. I'll go back to my gyno in a few weeks... she's always wanting to biopsy my lining and last year she wanted D&C me but I suggested a pelvic ultrasound, which turned into a follow up ultrasound procedures but no D&C yet.

Stanzie - you can go ahead and laugh at my tail anytime. We didn't end up seeing Midnight in Paris last night as we were invited to dinner with friends-who-drink-too-much. I ate a steak the size of a plate and drank too much red wine so I'm slow today. We also danced to classic bee-pop and worked our way into the 80's. Can't remember the last time we danced like that. We did see Tree of Life with friends several weeks ago. It is different... an art film. Don't expect to follow a storyline - it's more like a statement... about connections and spirituality.

 now that was a good movie!

Kristy - sounds like you are having a lovely weekend. I can just picture hanging onto Wig.

 oops, that's Kristen Wiig in a wig

Kymn - good mantra... good mantra. Hope you feel better soon and I'm sure you will just keep feeling better every day.

Beanie - glad you were finally successful getting your post posted and it is such a wonderful, thoughtful one. Don't know how I would have made it through the last couple of years without my breast friends...

And what a cute little bean you were, of course! Those corgis are cute too... mine looks just like the "real dogs" one.

Sweet dreams, Karen.

Good evening ladies, feeling sort of ok, want my taste buds back and I really really really need to....well I am sure you can all guess good lord why does it stop everything from moving on out arrgg.

I would love a pimms yuummmy I used to drink them all the time, I think I was in my I love foreinger stage and was dating a Kiwi lol.

ok off to bed early hope you all enjoy your fireworks

Hugs Kymn

Still laffing at the pics Gail and Beans posted.....soooooo funny! DorK, omg I hope you are better tomorrow, or you better get your a$$ in gear and call the dr asap!! Sounds like you have had a miserable weekend, and HOPE you start feeling bettah soonah.

Stanzie, sounds like you are getting hammered by storms tonight...hope everyone is ok. Is your friend there yet? What an amazing hostess you are!!!

There were strong winds when we were leaving the casino, and it looked like pink snow coming down! The dk pink crepe myrtle blossoms were so thick coming off the trees and blowing so hard all over,covering everything, it actually was quite pretty!

My mom is ready to come back here asap for a month or so; I'll check for flts tomorrow! It is soooo hot, but at least there is a/c inside. Now we need to get the a/c fixed in her car....estimate was $1500...already pd the shop about $150 for what they thought would work....but it didn't. Said most likely cause she didn't use it very much in HI. Was going to put it off thinking they weren't coming back till it was cooler, but now gotta get it done right away!!!

Nighty night girls! Hoping those that are not feeling great today will be feeling much better by morning. Hoping for sweet dweams and no night sweats!!!

Ciao for Niao,

Kathy

DorK - Your tummy make me worry...wud U doc say?? Please take care a U!!

Good Morning Ladies of the Lounge!

Beans, I must be the last one to notice your avatar......LOVE IT! So cute. Nah, I left the lounge early last nite....was purty tie-erd. Missed having a dwink wid ya....darn!

Cherokee, Thanks for stopping in. Good luck to you, and hope everything works out!

Hey, is there a wake-up dwink, with energy too??? Thinking coffee, kahlua, frangelica.....and what can be added for energy? Sugar? LOL. Lots to do today, but no energy yet. Wishing all my breast friends the bestest day-before-Tuesday!!! DorK, let us know how you are doing, okay?

BARMEN!!!

Kathy